JUST IN…. Gov. Bagudu explain causes of farmers-herders crisis

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State

Aminat Isah, in Birnin-Kebbi

The Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on Sunday reacted to the re-occurring cases of farmers/herders clash on some parts of the country.

He noted that there is urgent need for the media to set up panel of inquiry to critically interrogate the matter for peaceful co-existence to reign.

The Governor who spoke in Birnin-Kebbi the Kebbi State capital when he recieved the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who paid him a courtesy visit.

He further stressed that “it is a climate change issue that is causimg the crisis and not tribal as widely presented in the news.

“It the same climate issue that affects the fishermen and pushed them into fish farming that has affected the pastoralists too.”

According to Bagudu, “This has changed the occupational practice of the herders and farmers who have to change in the direction of the change in climate leading to distortion in their usual practice, requiring  some transition in thinking for them to adjust.

“Their occupational practice has changed. What they used to do and how can not be done anymore. Realistically they must be helped because it takes some thinking for them to adjust.”

The governor however urged the media to interrogate the problem and get themselves involved in investigative journalism on farmers-herders’ clashes in order to avoid misrepresentation.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said his visit to the state is to show Nigerians the grand strides Kebbi State has made in its agricultural revolution.

“In just two years farmers in the country have increased to 12 million from 5million. The success stories of the agricultural revolution of the country cannot of be complete without Kebbi state in the picture especially in the area of rice farm where it has attained a giant stride”, he added.